DPP wants President Banda back in the party

The former governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is yet to absorb the shock of its recent relegation to the opposition benches following the sudden death of its founding father Bingu wa Mutharika. This has been evidenced by public statements the party’s leadership has been making against the ruling People’s Party (PP).

The latest salvo, among several fantasy utterances, is the call by DPP northern region governor and legislator for Mzimba Hora, Rev. Christopher Ngwira, who suggested that the country’s President and PP leader Mrs. Joyce Banda should have dissolved her party and return to DPP when she was ascending to the presidency two months ago after Mutharika’s death.

According to Ngwira such move would have consolidated the country’s democracy, enhance unity and promote tolerance.

Ngwira: JB should have been back with DPP

However, the ruling PP has described DPP’s assertions as incomprehensible, total sign of hallucination and utter garbage.

In an interview monitored on local private radio MIJ FM, Rev. Ngwira based his suggestions on the fact that the President was elected on a DPP ticket as such she should have gone back so that it remains a ruling party until next elections.

When reminded that the President did not quit the DPP out of her own will rather she was booted out unceremoniously, Ngwira remained adamant that whatever happened with JB, as the president is popularly known, does not rule out the fact of the matter that she was elected on DPP ticket.

“You see as a country we’re moving in circles just because the president took her PP into government without even tasting an election. What she should have done is to simply dissolve the PP and return to the DPP that is what democracy is all about. Otherwise, she is ruling illegally hence we are having all these political problems,” said Rev. Ngwira without further elaboration.

But in his reaction, PP’s official spokesperson Steve Mwenye accused Rev. Ngwira and entire DPP leadership of promoting hatred and tribalism among Malawians.

He therefore urged the former ruling party to wake up from its slumber and move on before it is too late.

Mwenye also wondered whether the DPP has already forgotten how it came into existence.

“I think the DPP is still dreaming in color, I mean where on earth can one dissolve her party and go back to a party that embarrassingly chased her out? Have they forgotten that Bingu ditched the UDF and gave birth to the DPP? Unlike Bingu, her Excellency Mrs. Banda was booted out and had no choice but to form her own party and I think what the DPP is saying is utter garbage, incomprehensible and total imbecility.

“Our leader is very principled and there is no way she can do what the DPP is proposing. My take, on all the utterances the DPP is making against us is that I think they have found going in opposition very tough and it’s not easy as it seems, they are going through a lot that’s why they are just talking like a mad dog,” responded Mwenye.

Recently, media reports unraveled how the PP and DPP talks for a possible coalition flopped at last minute due to lack of trust between the two rival parties forcing the president to work with individual DPP members of parliament.

Banda has also secured a working relationship with United Democratic Front (UDF), a party she launched her political career in late 90s.